National study of Emergency Department visits for burn injuries, 1993 to 2004

No studies have examined U.S. burn epidemiology from the perspective of the Emergency Department. We sought to describe patient characteristics, injury types, and Emergency Department practice patterns. Data were collected from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey between 1993 and 2004. Emergency Department visit rates for burn injury decreased from 1993 to 2004 with a peak of 2.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.1-3.4) per 1000 U.S. population in 1995 and a nadir of 1.6 (95% CI 1.2-2.0) per 1000 in 2004. The Emergency Department visit rate for burn injuries was greater for men than women (2.7 [95% CI 2.4-3.0] vs 1.8 [95% CI 1.6-2.0] per 1000) and for black than white subjects (3.4 [95% CI 2.8-3.9] vs 2.1 [95%CI 1.9-2.3] per 1000), though all these groups showed decreases. Emergency Department visit rates for burns were greatest in the first and third decades (3.3 [95% CI 2.8-3.7] and 3.5 [95% CI 3.0-4.0] per 1000, respectively) and decreased thereafter. The upper extremity was the most commonly burned part of the body (37% of total) and most burns of specified depth were partial thickness (48% of total). Less than half of patients received analgesics (47%) or topical antibiotics (38%). Emergency Department visits for burns are declining, but rates remain high in men, black individuals, and children. Burn-prevention efforts should target these groups. Upper-extremity and partial-thickness injuries are common, and less than half of patients receive analgesics or topical antibiotics. Collaboration between burn specialists and Emergency Department personnel should focus on the care of these types of injuries.